So this is my first post here, Hi.

Here is the deal. I worked on a co worker's car last night. It is a 2000 C70, turbo, five speed.

I replaced the control arms, and everything went well, but before doing the alignment, I drove around the block to settle things in. Then the passenger side axle broke.

The reason I had to replace the control arms was a pretty hard impact with a curb. It was hard enough that it broke a lug off inside the hub.

So what I am wondering, is there something with Volvo and the CV joint that I did not know, and by changing the CV joint, I somehow screwed up the axle? Or was this likely due to the curb incident?

Little more info, the joint that broke is the inner joint on the passenger side. It was definitely moving around during the repair, since I had to move the strut around to get the control arm in there.


I would really appreciate some help with this. I am a shade tree type mechanic, but I have done this repair on other cars as well as replaced boots, axles, etc, and never had a problem. If this IS something I did, I want to take care of it.

 

Did you leave the axle nut on when moving the strut around to get the control arm out?

 

Yep. I did not loosen the axel in any way.

 

There's really no way to prove what happened, but I would say that the axle probably pulled too far out of the joint while doing work. It either pulled all the way out or out enough to get stuck partially out. Then when the car is driven, damage is done. I remove the axle but to allow the hub to move without pulling on the axle joints when doing something like that.

 

Thanks a lot for the info. I suppose there is no way to count out either possibility, but since it is a possibility that this is on me, I guess I will just take care of it. I have not heard of this happening before, but I guess that I will just have to pay for a lesson. Education can be expensive.

Thanks again for the info.

 

No problem. Sounds like you're trying to do the right thing and that is good. I would try explaining to the guy that there is a chance it was you and a chance it was him and try to work something out (like he buys the part and you take care of the labor- that way it doesn't cost you actual money). Most people appreciate the honesty and are willing to work with a situation like that.